1968 L71 valve covers

[John M.]

I want to be sure that I put the correct valve covers on the car as I restore it. It is an April car so I think it should be second design with the small crunched corner for the power brake booster. I can't find good drawings or photo's showing all the brackets and clips in the correct position. Have 4 chromed sets in my possession but am not sure . Photo's of both sides of each cover would be excellent. As far as I can see neither the AIM or judging manual are clear cut regarding these covers.

Thanks and regards John

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 L71 valve covers

I want to be sure that I put the correct valve covers on the car as I restore it. It is an April car so I think it should be second design with the small crunched corner for the power brake booster. I can't find good drawings or photo's showing all the brackets and clips in the correct position. Have 4 chromed sets in my possession but am not sure . Photo's of both sides of each cover would be excellent. As far as I can see neither the AIM or judging manual are clear cut regarding these covers.

Thanks and regards John

John------


The late 1968 Corvette big block (and, your April car qualifies) valve covers did not have a "crunched corner" on the rear of the left side cover (early 1968 did). Instead, the entire rear of the cover was "slanted" evenly at about a 60 degree angle. There was also a rather strange "flat extension" on the upper end of the slant. I cannot otherwise describe it nor do I know what the purpose was.

Both valve covers had wire stands spot welded to the sides of the upper rear. In addition, there were wire separator clip brackets spot welded to the top of each valve cover. These were simple angle brackets. The one on the left side cover was about at the mid-point of the cover and welded on at the lower top of the cover. The one on the right side was at about 1/3 the length of the cover from the rear.

That's about the best I can do to describe them. There were about a "jillion" different big block valve cover configurations used over the 1965-74 period for all Chevrolet vehicles with most differing in only minor ways.

[Edward B.]

Re: 1968 L71 valve covers

John, I've not researched this very much and I have no association with them, but I've been told that the reproductions from CRANE'S are dead nuts on.

Joe, I'm assuming you're referring to the "dimple" on the valve cover as shown in THIS PICTURE? If so, it was there for rocker arm clearance and for the oil dripper inside the valve cover as shown in THIS PICTURE.

Ed

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 L71 valve covers

John, I've not researched this very much and I have no association with them, but I've been told that the reproductions from CRANE'S are dead nuts on.

Joe, I'm assuming you're referring to the "dimple" on the valve cover as shown in THIS PICTURE? If so, it was there for rocker arm clearance and for the oil dripper inside the valve cover as shown in THIS PICTURE.

Ed

Ed-------


Yes, that's the feature I was referring to.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1968 L71 valve covers

Cranes '67 bare steel versions are very close, but need a little massaging to appear as originals. I'm uncertain about the '68 up versions.